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Owner Bowlen pleased with Broncos' 5-0 start, coach

After an offseason full of criticism, Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is quite pleased with his team’s 5-0 start.
Speaking to NFL.com at the league’s fall meeting in Boston, Bowlen praised coach Josh McDaniels.

“Things couldn’t be any better,” Bowlen told the league’s Web site.

The NFL.com story indicated Bowlen complimented McDaniels on how he took the criticism for the trade of quarterback Jay Cutler to Chicago, although it was a decision made by the organization. People wondered if Bowlen made the right move replacing Mike Shanahan, but now McDaniels is one of the hot names around the league.

“We took some early criticism hiring a young coach — he was 32 years old at the time — and were questioned about what he was going to be able to do,” Bowlen told NFL.com. “He’s been terrific. It’s been extremely important as we got into the process of him being a head coach, that the way he’s handled particular situations was well beyond his years. He’s proven he is ready.”

Bowlen also addressed receiver Brandon Marshall, who has four touchdowns in Denver’s past three games. Marshall has been upset with his contract, but Bowlen predicted his play will earn him a huge deal.

“Brandon understands that he’s got a year left on his present deal, but if he keeps playing the way he is, he’s going to get a very significant raise — a much better contract,” Bowlen told NFL.com. “That’s the way it goes, and Brandon has accepted that.”